Dear CR List, List Member Steve McFee of Montreal,Canada asks for help in "Identifying a recently purchased steel Colnago,with Gilco tubing decals and a straight chrome fork.
My research on the subject of Colnago bicycles lead me to the Colnago website, history section. http://www.colnago.com
The name "Gilco" tubing generally refers to crimped Columbus tubing made by Columbus exclusively for Colnago. Crimped tubing first appears on a Colnago bicycle in 1975 on a Model called the MEXICO (please correct me if I'm wrong on this point).This information came from the Colnago website,history section, Year 1975. The crimped steel tubing on the "Mexico" model may not be called "Gilco", but it is an early example in the Colnago line, of a bicycle with crimped steel tubing.
FAST FORWARD TWELVE YEARS.....
1987 MODEL YEAR: "The birth of Colnago's "PRECISA FORK" with STRAIGHT BLADES is a major revolution in fork design". The above quote is from the Colnago website,history section, year 1987.There is a great picture of the above fork on the site also.
If your fork is original that would place your bicycle at Model year 1987 or later. The Gilco tubing is often found on the MASTER SERIES as Mr. Lou Deeter of Florida responded on January 21,2005. I have an off topic (1993) "Colnago Master Light" with a Gilco Tubing decal and crimped tubes on the three main tubes (seat,top and down tubes) and the all chrome Precisa front fork". The graphics do say "Master Light" which is the model of my bicycle.
A digital picture for the "Colnago experts" would go a long way in nailing down the exact year of your bicycle. There are very few old Colnagos with an all chrome curved front fork. More common for Colnago bicycles with all chrome front forks are the later post 1987 model year bicycles such as your recent purchase. Your bicycle certainly falls into the category of KOF (Keeper of the Flame) in that it is a steel bicycle with steel lugs.
I strongly urge anyone with an interest in Colnago to check out their website and history section. The archival section of the Classic Rendezvous list is also a great resource. Its like having a library at your finger tips! Good luck in your search!
Yours truly, Martin Walsh in cold and snowy Vienna,Va.,USA (getting ready to put a little green wax on the old classic skis)